Have you ever wondered what lies beyond the dark mouth of a sea cave? Are you curious about the mysterious creatures that live within? Ocean Quest Adventure Resort has added a new offering to their Close Encounter Tours: 2 guides, 3 hours, 4 boats, 8 lights, 12 people, and 24 fins – it’s time to go swimming in the dark!

I never win things. It’s not from a lack of trying, because believe me I try. In fact, I try harder than most. Here’s why: I love free stuff – doesn’t matter how big or how small, if it’s free, it’s fantastic. A couple of weeks ago, Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism held a giveaway during their annual Whale Week celebration – the prize was a massive whale-watching excursion for two, compliments of Air Canada and Maxxim Vacations.

If you want to go cod fishing from a traditional Newfoundland dory then you need to contact Darren Park. Darren is a top notch guide and operates 2 Newfoundland dories for tours of the Goose and Penguin Arm and is based in Cox’s Cove at the end of the North Shore highway (highway 440) near Corner Brook. His dory fishing trips are unique in the province and are very popular during the recreational cod fishery which runs until August 10 this summer. When we phoned to book our trip he told us that all of his groups have caught their limit so far this year and that the largest fish caught was a 15 lb cod. “Perfect” we said “mark us down for the Tuesday, August 5 in your evening time slot.”

The roar of the engine cuts out and everything is silent. I hold my breath and scan the waters for a sign of life. Suddenly a glistening black and white tail flicks up and into view. “Go! Go! Go!” screams the Skipper and I plunge into the icy waters. As I swim I look through my mask into the deep and see a giant directly below me – there’s no turning back now, I’m swimming with humpbacks.

A love of the ocean and its natural surroundings led owners (and brothers) Joe and Loyola O'Brien to offer guided tours of the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve aboard their refurbished fishing vessel the Rob and Rand. Operating under the name Bird Island Charters in 1985, they were the first boat-touring company to operate out of Bay Bulls, Newfoundland. Their great service, emphasis on safety, and unique brand of entertainment quickly attracted a growing number of visitors. They soon added two 46-foot passenger vessels, the Atlantic Puffin and Atlantic Whaler, to give visitors an even more comfortable tour. This year marks their 30th anniversary and I was thrilled to join in on the celebrations! Atlantic Puffins, Humpback Whales, seabirds, icebergs, sea stacks, caves and a geyser are just some of the sights you can see during one of their daily boat tours - I couldn't wait to get on the water.

"There are a million reasons to visit St. John’s – we want YOU to help us narrow it down to the TOP 5!"

We asked our locals to be ambassadors to the rest of the world! What are the very best reasons to visit our colourful city? Is it our food? The fresh ocean air? The people? Here within, five notable choices:

As I sat in my kayak, gently bobbing in the water, sun warming my face, I almost feel the need to pinch myself – directly in front of me was a massive, sparkling iceberg. “This is amazing!” yells my partner, seated in the back of our tandem boat, and it was. Not many can say they spent their Sunday paddling around two 10,000 year old giants – but Ocean Quest Adventure Resort made it possible.

I had the honour of being the very first passenger on Iceberg Quest's newest offering - she's fast, she's bold and most of all, it's the most fun I've ever had on the ocean. Introducing a brand new 12 passenger zodiac - buckle your seat belts folks, you've never experience Newfoundland quite like this. If you want to get up close and personal with nature (and I mean close!), there's no better way than aboard this vessel.

Have you ever felt the rush before boarding a ship for an adventure into Canada’s North?

The Northern Ranger ferry service links the small, remote communities of Nunatsiavut during the summer months with a 5-day return trip: Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Nain. This return trip affords you a rare opportunity to learn the history and culture of this region and the Labrador Inuit lifestyle. During each community visit you will witness how vibrant traditions and culture resonate within modern communities; all under the backdrop of a wild and majestic sub-arctic Labrador environment that profoundly contrasts with the island of Newfoundland.

A day spent on the water is a quintessential experience when travelling to Newfoundland & Labrador. Set sail from St. John's harbour and witness the world’s largest concentration of humpback whales, 12,000 year old icebergs and elegant seabirds feeding in our coastal waters. Iceberg Quest’s award winning tour has been departing from St. John’s and Twillingate showcasing Newfoundland’s unique charm for over a decade. I sat down down with Captain Barry Rogers for an unforgettable hour as he regaled me with tales of his childhood on the water, the beginnings of Iceberg Quest and a sneak peek of some of their new product offerings for 2014.

Cruise Nunatsiavut in Labrador to experience unique aboriginal culture and breathtaking Arctic scenery. Find yourself in the adventures and mysteries of the Labrador Inuit as you cruise through their homeland.

The Northern Ranger ferry service links the small, remote communities of Nunatsiavut during the summer months with a 5-day return trip: Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Nain. Passengers have a choice of accommodations ranging from a dormitory bunk to a deluxe cabin with ensuite.

The return trip affords you a rare opportunity to learn the history and culture of this region and the Labrador Inuit lifstyle. During each community visit you will witness how vibrant traditions and culture resonate within modern communities; all under the backdrop of a wild and majestic sub-arctic Labrador environment that profoundly contrasts with the island of Newfoundland.

Explore the past, experience the beauty. Hiding between the great Tablelands and the vast Atlantic Ocean sits quiet Trout River. While proclaiming itself to be Newfoundland’s best kept vacation secret, a more accurate account would be Canada’s best kept secret. This destination should be on every travellers list when exploring Newfoundland. Situated 86km from Deer Lake International Airport, in the glorious Gros Morne National Park, it is a rare and beautiful find nestled within another rare and beautiful find.

Watching the sunset on a clear, calm night, its final rays shimmering on the bay waters. The glowing ball of orange disappearing behind the strong, rustic 500 million year old tablelands. It is hard not feel overwhelmed by the natural beauty of the scene. This unique sight can only be seen from the water, which is why you need to get out onto Bonne Bay in a boat.

On Thursday, August 29 the weather improved greatly from the previous day and we awoke to bright sun and light winds. We first set our sights on the Point Amour Lighthouse and it was a splendid day to be along the coast. This lighthouse is the second tallest lighthouse in Canada and is 109 feet tall. You can climb the 132 steps to the top where we got a bird’s eye view of the surrounding area. While we were there the staff suggested doing the short 1 km trail to see the wreck of the HMS Raleigh which ran aground in dense fog on August 8, 1922.

I felt like an alien. I was in a full piece black neoprene wet suit complete with hood, sitting in Ocean Quest's Zodiac listening to Holly Stanley my tour guide for the next three hours. We were headed out of Petty Harbour into the Atlantic Ocean to do something I did not even realize was possible. We were about to go snorkeling with whales.